THE INGENUE

Stephanie Willis brings all the emotions in this compelling novel to life with her narration. Saskia Kreis returns home after her mother's death, fully expecting to inherit her opulent ancestral home. Instead, she learns that an older family friend with whom she shared a relationship when she was much younger has inherited the mansion. Her mission is to win back her house without dragging the past into the open and ruining countless lives. In alternating vignettes Willis portrays a young, innocent Saskia and her older, enraged self to perfection. Patrick, the family friend, is never reduced to a villainous caricature, though no one will be rooting for him. Willis empowers Saskia with a righteous rage that listeners will embrace. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]